Birth

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1979 in Voronezh, Russia

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Keyboard

 

Kirill Gerstein is a Russian-American pianist who has established himself as one of the most versatile and exciting musicians of his generation. Born on October 23, 1979, in Voronezh, Russia, Gerstein showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of six. His parents, both professional musicians, recognized his talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Gerstein's early training was at the Central Music School in Moscow, where he studied with Anna Kantor, a renowned teacher who had also taught Evgeny Kissin. He later continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory with Dmitri Bashkirov, a distinguished pianist and pedagogue. In 1993, at the age of 14, Gerstein moved to the United States with his family and enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied jazz piano. Gerstein's interest in jazz had a profound impact on his musical development, and he began to explore the connections between jazz and classical music. He continued his classical piano studies with Solomon Mikowsky at the Manhattan School of Music, where he earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He also studied with Ferenc Rados in Budapest and with András Schiff in Switzerland. Gerstein's career took off in 2001, when he won the Gilmore Young Artist Award, one of the most prestigious awards for young pianists. The award brought him international recognition and led to numerous engagements with major orchestras and conductors. He made his debut with the New York Philharmonic in 2002, playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 under the baton of Lorin Maazel. He has since performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the London Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Gerstein's repertoire is wide-ranging and includes works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, and many others. He is particularly known for his interpretations of the music of Gershwin and Ravel, as well as for his performances of contemporary music. He has premiered works by composers such as Oliver Knussen, Brad Mehldau, and Thomas Adès, and has collaborated with jazz musicians such as Chick Corea and Wayne Shorter. Gerstein's recordings have received critical acclaim and have won several awards, including a Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo for his recording of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He has also been recognized for his chamber music performances, including his collaborations with violinist Vadim Repin and cellist Steven Isserlis. In addition to his performing career, Gerstein is also a dedicated teacher and has taught at institutions such as the Stuttgart Musikhochschule and the Kronberg Academy. He is currently a professor of piano at the Musikhochschule in Hannover, Germany. Gerstein's musical achievements have been recognized with numerous awards and honors, including the Avery Fisher Career Grant, the Arthur Rubinstein Prize, and the Royal Philharmonic Society's Instrumentalist Award. He was also named a MacArthur Fellow in 2010, one of the most prestigious awards for creative individuals. In conclusion, Kirill Gerstein is a pianist of exceptional talent and versatility, whose musical achievements have brought him international recognition and acclaim.

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